Packing ring



` .Apfl 12,1927-,r 1,624,671

vv. E. NELSON PACKING RING y Filed Apri 'l 27. 19:21

',INVENTOR.'

` ATTORNEY.

l Patented Apr.l l12, A1927.

UNITED STATES VICTOR E. NELSON 0F BEDFORD, MIICHIGrAN.-

' PACKING RIN G.

`Application led April 27, 1921. Serial No. 464,845.A

. This invention relates to packing rings and the object of theinvention is to provide a packing ring which is contractable about ashaft to prevent oil leakage 'along 6 the shaft. Another object oftheinvention is to provide a .packmg ring for luse' in prevention ofleakage of oi1` or grease about bearings, rods,'shafts and otherrotating members. This packing is excellently adapted for use betweenlthe rear axle housing and rear Wheel of an automobile to prevent oil orgrease from leaking from the differential through the housing and bear'ing therein lor to prevent leakage 'of oil or grease from the bearingitself. Heretofore, it has been the usual custom to utilize a feltwasher in this connection but shouldv there by any play of the shaft inthe bearing therefor the opening in the Washer lis enlarged so that oilmay easily pass between lthe shaft and inner face of the Washer. Shouldthe felt Washer be secured to rotate with the Wheel and shaft andrideagainst the face of the bearing, the face thereof be'- 25 comes quicklyworn and allows oil leakage and should there be a slight end play inIthe shaft the Washer-isnot heldin continuous contact with vthe face" ofthe bearing so that oil leakage will occur. The principal object of thisinvention is,'.therefore, to provide a packing ring which, at all times,is

. automaticallyl held in packing position independent of any end playof' the shaft, the said ring when so assembled being inherently.

6" `contractable about the -shaft thus preventing ring consisting of aninnersemi-flexible lpackin member and an outer spring metal ring a aptedwhen assembledin proper relation to contract the semi-,iex'ible memberon the shaft and force the same longitudinally into continuous contactwith a bearingface and' thereby .prevent leakage of oil between thebearing face and abuttin V semi-flexible member. These o jects and theseveral novel Vfeatures of the invention are hereinafter more fullydescribed and 'claimed in the end of a rear axle housing 3. An

' oil leakage along .the shaft." A vfurther object of the invention isto provide a'packingy face ofthe and the preferred form of constructionby which these objects are attained is shown in the accompanyingdrawings in vvhich-v Fig. 1 is a. section'through a rear axle bearing,sha-ft andjwheel hub showing my improved packing ring assembled inproper relation therewith.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section through the packing ring.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the spring metal portion ofthe packing ring. i

Fig. 4 is a plan view of an alternative type of spring metal member.4 e

Fig. 5 is a section showing the assembly of the packing ring'on a fullioating type of axle.

, Fig. 6 is a section showing the unit assernbly of thepacking ringbefore4 assembly on the full floating type of'axle.

As shown in Fig. 1 a shaft lis provided which is rotatablein thebearings 2- placed end cap 4 is provided for the rear axle housingAhaving' an annular shoulderor "raised portion 5 fitting over the end ofthe housing', the central portion" 6 being depressed/so that whenthecap'is driven onto 75v the axle housing by striking the shoulder 5 the,'face of the portion 6 isnot marred. A semi-flexible packing 7 isprovided about the shaft 1, as shown in Fig. 1, and is formed ofcompressed cork or other :materialsuitso able for the purpose.`.'.l`hisl annular packing member 7 is provided with a face 8 shown inFig.'2, adapted to'engage. the faceofthe portion 6 of the end cap 4, thej'packing 'member7 also having an annular inner face 85 9 fittingtightlyabout the shaft 1. A key- Way v10 is provided in the tapered end 11 oftheshaft and a wheel'hub 12 is keyed to the said shaft. A spring metalpacking ring 13;

is provided, as shown in Figs. 2 vand 3, `hav-v 90 ing a centralaperture 14 adapted to tit4 loosely about the shaft, a, lug 15V on thering extending into the aperture 14 and being adapted to engage intheend 16 of the'keyway 10. The'spring metal rin 13 is pro- 95 ,vided withla beveled iiangeA 1 as shown y and a series of notches 21 may becut'into the flange 17` so that the said flange may spread to `someextent on the beveled face. of the member 7. The spring members 20, as

Y shown more particularly in-Fig. 2, are

turned over slightly at 22 so as not to catch in the face of the wheelhub riding in contact therewith. Thespring metal ring 13 is assembledover the packing member 7 in themanner shown in Fig. 2 and the assembleddevice is slipped. over vthe end of vthe shaft 1 until the inner face 8of the packing ring engages the. outer face of the depressed portion 6of the cap. `In thus assembing the device the lug 15 is positioned inthe end 16 of the keyway 10 to prevent rotationv of the packing inrelation to the shaft. The hub 12 is then secured on the -end 1] of theshaft 1 with the face thereon engaging and compressing the spring lugsL20 of the spring metal ring 13. `This tension on the spring lugs 20holds the face 8 of the .packing in tight contact with the face of theportion 6-of the cap 4 and effectually packs the rear axle againstleakage of oil therebetween. The central aperture through the packingmember 7 is of slightly.`

smaller diameter than the shaft so that the packing member 7 is a pressfit on the shaft,

l the" face 9 of the. packing engaging tightly against the shaft at allpoints and due to the member 13 being provided with a lug 15 engagingthe keywayl in the shaft the member 13 and packing member 7 are securedtothe shaft and rotate therewith..

vIn the form shown in Fig; 1 the stationary member is the end cap 4reative to which the packing ring has rotative and lateral movement andthe same effect is .securedin the construction shown in Fig. 5 in whichthe packing ring is secured to a stationary member 33 and the packingface of the ring engages the rotating element 29 which may floatrelative thereto. This packing will also take up end play of the shaftby means of the spring lugs which at all times tend .to press againstthe inner face of the wheel hub and force the face 8 of the packingmember 7 into engagement with the ,face 6 of the lcap 4.

J y In Fig. 5 a full floating-type of rear-'axle y is shown the axle 23being rotatable in the housing 24. The housing 24 is stationary and abushing 33 is provided thereabout on which roller bearings 25 areadapted to rotate, a portion of the hub 26 being keyed to the axle endand a portionl 27 of the hub riding on the roller bearings andsupporting the wheel spokes.l Secured to the portion 27A by cap screws28 is a fianged member 29 29. The spring metal ring for;` this .type off l packing is provided with a series of out? Wardly extending lugs 34about the central aperture adapted and the fiber disc disc 30. 'A disc30 is provided having a central aperture also adapted to engage over thesaid lugs, the -disc 30 being seated in thc annularshoulder 31 of the`member 29, it

being necessary to compress the lugs 20 to some extent in order to seatthe member 30. Si

This .member 30 may be welded in the shoulder 31 of-the member29providing a cage' which thus encloses the packing ring and by means ofthe lugs 34 engaging the edges of the aperture in the member 30, thepack` ing ring is held centrally in the said mem-v ber. When the partsare welded as stated, they may be handled as a unit consisting of theflanged member 29, apertured disc 30 and packing ring. The assembledunit may 7 be positioned over the bushing 33, shown in Fig. 5, the lug15 on the spring lmetal ring engaging a small keyway or notch in thebushing 33. This lug 15 is rounded so that it may be easily moved intoor out of the notch or keyway therefore and when inthe keyway thepacking ring is prevented from rotation in relation to the bushing.W'hen Athe device has been thus assembled it -will be noted that thepacking ring is held from rotation by the lug 15 and,if desired, asshown in Fig. 3 a-series of points 36 may be lstruck' inwardly from thespring metal member 13 which are adapted to engage the cork packing ring7 when assembled therewith l andp'revent rotation of the member 7 inrelation to 'the spring metal ring. lIt will be noted from Fig.' l5 thatthe flanged member 29 and apertured disc 30 are adapted-3 to rotateabout the packing ring with the wheel hub. Due/to the compression of themembers 20 which are compressed in "Figs 1 and 5, the face 8 o f 'thecork gasket 7 is held in contact with the` corresponding face of themember 29 and the fiber member 35 takes up the wear caused by rotationofI the apertured disc 30 thereagainst and prevents the lugs 20 fromengaging the member 30 and becoming worn. It will be noted that." i

in the form-shown in Fig. 2, as the cup shaped spring metal member 13-is forced over the cork gasket 7 the spring metal member tends tocontract the cork gasket and hold the face 9 thereof in tight engagementwith the shaft or bushing with which l' is to position the packing tofit Within the disc' 30 between the ring and t itis used. 'As reviously'stated, the cork member prefera ly'fits the shaft but, by`

compressingthe same with the spring metal member, such tight fit isinsured and. inaccuracies in workmanship compensated for. In Fig. 4 Ihave illustrated an alternative type of spring metal ring in which thestruck up Ispringlugs 32 are radially positioned the remainder ofthering being similar to `that shown in Fig. 3. The action of this ringis similar to that of the ring 13 shown inthe aremaining figures but dueto the'lugs 32 being somewhat shorter and not extending as high as thelugs 20 this ring is not so well adapted to take up end play as the typeshown in Fig. 1. is to be noted 'that both types of rings tend tocontract the packing to some extent and as the same time.

tend to force the packing endways vwhen pressure is applied so that atall times the l faces 8 and 9 ofthe packing prevent leakage v of oil. I

From the foregoing description it becomes evident that the device isvery'efiicient in operation, of simple construction and consequent .lowmanufacturing cost, 1s easily assembled, and provides a device whichaccomplishes the objects described.

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode ofoperation, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Pate ent of theUnited States is- 1. A lubricant retainer for bearings for a rotatingvmember, comprising the. combinationtlerewith of a Acap atl one end ofthe bearing through whichthe rotating member extends land relative Itowhich the rotating member may have lateral movement, a pack- `ing ringtightly fitting the rotating member,

means for causing'the packing ring to rotate with'the rotating member,means for exerting a yielding pressure on the ring longitudinally oftherotating'member to mamtam the ring 1n packing engagement with vthe cap,and an abutment for the pressure exerting means, the arrangement of theparts permitting lateral motion between the packing ring and the cap. i

2. In packing for preventing oil leakage about a shaft,the combinationof a cork ring 1 having a "beveled face and a springmetal ring havingafiange engaging the'said beveled face, a series of lugs struck up fromthe spring metal ring, a member against which the cork ring is adaptedto engage, and a member against4 which the spring lugs are adaptedtopress, the cork 'ring and spring metal ring being secured together;

3. In a packing for rods, shafts or the like, a bearing for the shaft, acap enclosing the bearing, a cork ring having aflat face enA- gaging thesaid cap and having a beveled face on the opposite side, a spring metalcup shaped member engaging the said beveled 4 face and secured to theshaft, a member on ringbered the shaft and means between the said mem-4ber and cup' shaped member yieldably forcing the cork ring intoengagement with Vthe cap.

4. Inl a packing for rods, shafts or thev like, a bearlng, a cap for thebearing positioned about the shaft, a flexible packing member fittingthe shaft and provided with 'a beveled face, ^a cup shaped springmetgl-.

member secured lto the shaft and fitting the said beveled face,"aseries-of spring lugs struck up from the' cup shaped member,- and amember secured to the shaft against which the spring lugs -are adaptedto press. I

5. In al packing for rods, shafts or the a -cap for the bearing, a

like, la bearing;

semi-flexible packing member provided with a beveled face, a cup shapedspring metal member fitting the said beveled face, means preventingrotation of 'the 'semi-flexible member in relation to the cup shapedmember, a series of spring lugs struck up from the cup'shaped member,and a member secured to rotate with the shaft in a manner to compressthesemi-flexible packing member and cup shaped member between the saidmember and the saidcap.

6. In a fluid .retainer for bearings for a rotating member, a packingring of yielda said member and provided with "a coned.

face, a cup shaped member having a yieldable flange coextensive with theconed face of the corkri'ng, and yieldable means tending to move thecork ring longitudinally 'of its axis.

8. Ina packing for rods, shafts or the like, a housing for lthe shaft, abearing for A'the shaft within th'e housing, a cap provided with aflangefitting over the end of the housing' and having a central recess and acentral aperture foi-the shaft, a cork ring shaft`s,rods or the like,v4

havinga flat face engaging the recessed porf.

tion of the cap, a spring metal cup shaped member engaging over the saidcork ring and secured to the shaft, and means for holding the cup shapedmember in engagement with the; corkring.

able memberA stationarily mounted relative 9. A lubricant vretainerforbearings for l rotating shafts comprising the combination with thebearing and the shaft, ofa detaeh- 130.

to the .hearing and providing an end closure therefor, said detachablemember having a central aperturegreater in diameter than the shaft andthrough which the shaft extends and in which it may haveY lateralmovement., a packing ring of integral form and yieldable materialmounted on the shaft and movable therewith, and sprlng meansacting tocompress thesame radially to 'cause engagement thereof with the shaftand simultaneously move the same lon'gtudinalfieation.

VICTOR E. NELSON.

